The Week Ahead in the European Parliament – September 22, 2017

Next week will be a political group week and a committee week in the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will hold meetings with their respective political party to prepare the next plenary session, to be held from October 2 to 5, in Strasbourg.

A few interesting discussions will take place in committee.

On Monday, members of the Committee on International Trade (“INTA”) will vote on their report on the EU-Africa Strategy. The objective of this report is to foster the EU’s contribution to Africa’s growth and development, by assisting Africa in improving its business climate, fighting against poverty, corruption and money laundering, and managing natural resources. The EU would support initiatives aimed at enhancing the African economy and at ensuring that Africa enhances its production and processing capacity to reduce imports and take full advantage of Africa’s own resources. See the draft report here, and amendments tabled to the draft report here.

On the same day, the INTA Committee will discuss the Commission proposal for a regulation on the screening of foreign investment in strategic sectors. The Parliament had called on the Commission to introduce an act to regulate and control third-country investment in the EU, so as to avoid market disturbance. The Parliament proposed investment limitations, such as preventing foreign companies from benefitting from advantages in the EU, where the same benefits are not offered to European companies in their home countries. The Commission introduced its proposal for a regulation establishing a framework for screening of foreign direct investments into the European Union on September 13, 2017. See the Commission proposal here.

On Tuesday, the special parliamentary Committee on Money Laundering and Tax Evasion (“PANA”) will question representatives of UEFA, FIFA and other European associations of football (soccer) agents, on the transparency of the transfer markets, football club financing and players’ image rights.

On Wednesday, the Budgets Committee (“BUDG”) will vote on the amendments tabled to the draft EU 2018 budget. MEPs are expected to counter cuts made by the Council of the EU, with a view to sustaining and fostering research, education, migration and reducing youth unemployment.

Meetings and Agenda

Monday, September 25, 2017

Subcommittee on Human Rights

15:00 – 19:00

Public Hearing on the Rights of LGBTI people outside the EU and the implementation of the EU Guidelines

Committee on Development

15:00 – 18:30

Jointly with the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM)

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council Seventh Report on the Progress made in the Implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement – Presentation by Marten Verwey, EU coordinator for the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement and Head of the Structural Reform Support Service, European Commission

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council – Fourteenth report on relocation and resettlement – Presentation by Henrik Nielsen, Head of Unit, DG HOME, European Commission

European Court of Justice Judgment in Joined Cases C-643/15 and C-647/15 of 6 September 2017 on the actions brought by Slovakia and Hungary against the provisional mechanism for the mandatory relocation of asylum seekers – Presentation by the EP Legal Service